William oraia



W. CRAIG. Mash-Machine.

No. 228,171. Patented 1une1,1sso

N,FETERS. PMDTQ-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTDN, D C.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VVIlflllilAlVI CRAIG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MASH-MACHINE.

To all whom it 'may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Canica-of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mash-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mash-machines in which the revolving stirrers or arms by which the contents of the mash-tub is agitated are made hollow, and in which provision is made for a proper circulation of the heating or cool' ing agent through the said stirrers or arms.

My invention consists in various novel features of construction and combinations of parts, whereby a convenient means is afforded for supplying a heating or cooling agent to and providing for its circulation through the shafts and stirrers or arms, and whereby a desirable means is afforded for operating the said stirrers or arms and for connecting the various parts of the operating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I represents a central vertical section through a mash-tub embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section through the upright drivin g-shaft and appurtenances; and Fig. 3 represents a transverse section on the dotted line as Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the gures.

The general arrangement of the mechanism within the mash-tub A is very similar to that ordinarily employed, although the construe tion and mode of connection of the parts are very di'erent.

B designates a central vertical shaft which supports the mechanism for stirring or agitating the mash, and the lower end of which rests in a step-bearing, B', at the bottom of the tub. Rotary motion may. be imparted to said shaft by means of bevel-gearing C, or in any other desirable manner. i

D designates horizontal shafts, (here represented as two in number,) supported at their inner ends in the shaft B, and supported at or near their outer ends by means of arms E, depending from a cross-bar, F, securely attached to and rotating with the upright shaft B.

In order to impart motion to the shafts D, they are each provided at their inner ends with bevel-wheels D', which engage with a stationary bevel-geared ring, Qr, supported `on a frame or bed near the `bottom of the tub, and receive rotary motion therefrom as the shaft B is rotated.

H designates a series of stirrers or agitators secured to the shafts D, and `rotated therewith for acting upon the mash.

The arrangement of all these parts is similar to mash-tubs as usually constructed; but the construction and manner of connecting said parts are novel, and will now be described.

The shaft B is made hollow, and is provided Y at the top with an inlet-pipe, a, for water, steam, or other heating or cooling agent, which passes down through the passage b in the said shaft. In the shaft B is a hub, B2, which receives the inner ends of the shafts D. The last said shafts are hollow, constituting pipes, and are shown as provided at their inner lends with iianges c, secured in recesses in the hub B2, and kept in place by the stuffing-boxes d. rlhis method of securing the shafts D in the shaft B is very clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

The pipes D areclosed at the outer ends by means of caps D', and have arranged within them other pipes, I, the inner' ends of which are xed in the shaft B and communicate with the passage b in said shaft. The pipes D communicate with the space c around the center of the shaft B, from which extends an outlet passage or orilice, f.

The stirrers or agitators H, which are tted upon the shafts or pipes D, are composed of hollow distributing-chambers g', from which pipes h extend in opposite directions and on both sides of the said shafts. The shafts D are perforated at the points where the chambers g are situated, so as to permit of the passage of a heating or cooling agent.

The stirrers or agitators H may be of any desired shape or construction.

rEhe pipes h may be arranged on one or both sides of the chambers g, and any number of said stirrers may be arranged on each side of the upright shaft B.

In the operation of my machine the water, steam, or other heating or cooling agent, en tering through the pipe a. while the stirrers or agitators are in operation, passes down the shaft B, thence through the pipes I to the outerends thereof, and back around the pipes IOO I, within the pipes or shafts D. From thence it passes through each stirrer or agitator as it reaches them, and afterward returns through the pipes or shafts D to the center shaft, B, and out the outlet pipe or passage f.

When it is desired to introduce any foreign substance into the mash the stirrers or agitatorsmay be provided with holes or openings at any desired points, which may be opened or closed at will. y

When the machine is first put in operation it may be desirable to exhaust the air therefrom for the purpose of improving the circulation of the heating or cooling agent through the machine.

As all portions of the mash are brought into contact with the stirrers or agitators, the heat ing, cooling, or tempering ofthe mash may be uniformly and thoroughly effected.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the hollow upright shaft B and hollow horizontal shafts D, the

pipes I, arranged within the said shafts D, and the hollow stirrers or agitators H, arranged upon said shafts D, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the tub A, of the hollow upright shaftB, the hollow shafts D, provided with gearwheels D, the stationary bevelgeared ring G, with which said gear-wheels D engage, the pipes I, and the hollow rotary stirrers or agitators H, substantially as specied.

3. The combination of the hollow shaft B, having a hub, B2, and receiving an inlet-pipe, a, the pipes I I, secured rmly into said hub, the hollow rotaryshafts D, surrounding the said pipes I, and fitted to stuffing-boxes d on the said hub, and carrying the stirrers or agitators, and the outlet-pipe f, communicating with said hub, all substantially as specified.

WILLIAM CRAIG.

Witnesses: i.

A. M. GUMMING, JAMES H. Woon. 

